Rolland gave the Europcar team its second straight stage win after the 92-mile ride in the Alps from Albertville ended with a grueling ascent to the ski resort of La Toussuire.

Rolland won by 55 seconds, ahead of Thibaut Pinot of France and Christopher Froome of Britain. Wiggins was two more seconds slower.

"I'd been dreaming about this stage for six months. ... I got all sorts of messages this morning saying, 'It's your turn, it's your turn,' " Rolland said. "My second victory in the Alps in two years - I don't have the words to describe the feeling."

He won despite skidding to the ground in a crash during the last big downhill.

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"That's not going to stop me," he said.

Wiggins, along with Froome and other Sky teammates, repelled repeated attacks by his yellow jersey rivals over three huge ascents. Evans fell from second place overall- possibly seeing his repeat hopes vanish - after losing more than a minute to Wiggins. Evans began the day 1 minute, 53 seconds behind Wiggins, but now trails by 3:19.

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